Image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

In the present invention, in a color copy machine, original modes of copy job units, and setting changes of sharpness adjustment, whose updates are permitted beforehand, are totaled, change of default is judged, when this accumulated result is larger than a threshold value, and the original mode whose accumulated result is larger than the threshold value, and the sharpness adjustment are set to change a default state of an image processing unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/115,650,filed May 6, 2008, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser.No. 10/228,923, filed Aug. 28, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,394,561, theentire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to image forming apparatuses such as acolor digital copy machine.

In recent years, digital copy machines have rapidly spread in offices.

For the digital copy machine as a product which replaces a conventionalmonosaturated analog copy machine, a high-speed monosaturated digitalcopy machine on which an electronic sort function has been used. Inthese several years, partly because of a progress in color printedmatters, or color data prepared in the office, a color digital copymachine has also increasingly been used.

Particularly, since main body price and copy unit price of the colordigital copy machine are still high, many users use the copy machine ina plurality of fields, or use a function by which the use can be limitedby a management code for each group. Moreover, concerning adjustment ofa copy image quality, in a general product, an image quality adjustmentfunction is imparted onto a control panel so that the adjustment ispossible in accordance with a user's purpose.

Moreover, a product having a one-touch adjustment function which iscombined with image quality adjustment depending on some product, or afunction (set mode memory function) by which a user's set mode can bestored/read is also brought onto market.

As described above, with the color digital copy machine, for the userusing the machine in the plurality of divisions, or using the functionby which the use can be limited by the management code for each group,the image quality adjustment function on the control panel is generallyused to set quality conditions of the image to be copied for each copyand copy the image.

For example, a user who frequently copies a original considering photoreproducibility as important changes a mode to a print photo mode andexecutes the copy. A user who frequently copies a original including aphoto considering thick and clear text reproduction as important adjustssharpness on a plus side and manually adjusts density on a plus sidebefore copying the original.

Moreover, when the product having the set mode memory function is used,it is necessary to store a set mode state at a copy time by a designatednumber and call out and use the designated number indicating stored setmode state at the next use time.

Furthermore, as a content proposed in Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI PublicationNo. 9-179698 (Cannon Inc.), when the user selects/changes a set value ofan item with respect to default set values of a plurality of set items(setting with which general users are satisfied), the user can updatethe default set value. However, in this proposed function, the update isfreely possible when desired by a plurality of users as described above.Therefore, confusion is sometimes created, when the copy is desired bythe same user on pre-copy conditions.

Therefore, even the user who frequently uses the above-describedapparatus has to always change the same setting or read the designatednumber, and this deteriorates operability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a color image formingapparatus in which for image quality adjustment setting before imageformation start, a default state (which changes with an elapse of time)can be set with respect to a user (one user or a plurality of users)having high frequency of use of the apparatus and operationality can beenhanced with respect to the user.

To achieve the object, according to the present invention, there isprovided an image forming apparatus comprising:

a read unit which reads a color image from a original;

an image processing unit which converts the color image read by the readunit to an image signal for image formation;

an image forming unit which forms the image on an image forming mediumin response to the image signal from the image processing unit;

a storage unit which stores a default value of change of an imagequality in the image processing unit;

an instruction unit which instructs the image processing unit to changethe image quality by a series of image formation processing units;

a setting process unit which sets the change of the image quality in theimage processing unit in accordance with the instruction of theinstruction unit and the default value of the change of the imagequality of the storage unit;

a judgment unit which judges whether or not the default value of thestorage unit is changed based on a change state of the image qualityevery predetermined number of instructions by the instruction unit; and

a change unit to change the default value of the storage unit based onthe change state of the image quality, when the judgment unit judges thechange of the default value of the storage unit.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic constitution of an imageforming apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic constitution of an imageprocessing unit;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a storage example of a monitor table;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation of a major part of a copyprocess;

FIG. 5 to FIG. 14 are diagrams showing display examples of a liquidcrystal display unit;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the operation of the major part of thecopy process;

FIGS. 16, 17 are block diagrams showing a schematic constitution of animage forming system;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the storage example of the monitor table;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing an operation of the major part of thecopy process;

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing the display example of the liquid crystaldisplay unit; and

FIG. 21 is a block diagram showing a schematic constitution of the imageforming system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION First Embodiment

An image forming apparatus of a digital color copy machine according toan embodiment of the present invention will be described with referenceto the drawings.

FIGS. 1, 2 schematically show inner constitution blocks of the imageforming apparatus such as the digital color copy machine which reads acolor image on a original according to the present invention to form aduplicated image. The image forming apparatus is roughly constituted of:a color scanner section 1 as image read means for reading and inputtingthe color image on the original; a color printer section 2 as imageformation means for forming the duplicated image of the inputted colorimage; a control section 3 which controls the whole image formingapparatus; and a control panel 4.

In the control panel 4, various settings are performed. For example, bya touch key input of a liquid crystal display unit 4 a, type change of aoriginal mode (photo mode, text mode, text/photo mode), adjustment ofmanual density adjustment, and image quality adjustment (e.g., hueadjustment, saturation adjustment, sharpness adjustment, color balanceadjustment, RGB adjustment, one touch adjustment, and the like) areperformed. Moreover, other settings of a copy sheet number can also beperformed.

When the original mode is selected in accordance with the type of theoriginal, the original can be copied with an optimum image quality. Theoriginal mode includes the photo mode, text mode, text/photo mode, andthe like. The photo mode is selected with a photo original, the textmode is selected with a original including texts or texts and linedrawings, and the text/photo mode is selected with a original in whichthe texts and photos exist in a mixed manner.

In the hue adjustment, when hue is changed, color shade is adjusted.

In the saturation adjustment, vividness of the whole copy is adjusted.

The sharpness adjustment is adjustment performed when thin lines of thetexts or edges of images are to be emphasized.

In the color balance adjustment, a strong/weak level of each color ofyellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black K is changed to adjust the wholecolor shade.

In the RGB adjustment, red R, green G, and blue B are adjusted.

In the one-touch adjustment, “warm”, “cool”, “vivid”, “clear” areadjusted with one touch.

In the control panel 4, an image quality adjustment input is possiblesuch that a user's desired image quality can be adjusted at a copy time,and set information can be guided (announced) with display and voice,and the panel includes input/display/voice portions.

The color scanner section 1 is constituted of a scanner CPU 10 whichcontrols the whole, a ROM 11 in which control programs are stored, a RAM(not shown) for storing data, and a scanner mechanism unit 12.

The scanner mechanism unit 12 is constituted of an optical system whichreads/scans the original, a movement mechanism which moves the opticalsystem along a original base, a color image sensor into which a originalimage is guided by the optical system and which converts the image intoan image signal for each color, and an image correction portion whichcorrects the image signal outputted from the color image sensor.

The color printer section 2 is constituted of a printer CPU 13 whichcontrols the whole, a ROM 14 in which the control programs are stored, aRAM (not shown) for data storage, and a printer mechanism unit 15.

The printer mechanism unit 15 is constituted of a printer which performsprint based on image data (Y, M, C, BK) for each color separated in animage processing unit 18 described later. Each printer is constitutedof: a photosensitive drum as an image bearer; a charging apparatus whichcharges the surface of the photosensitive drum; an exposure apparatusincluding a semiconductor laser oscillator whose emission is controlledby image data (Y, M, C, BK) for each separated color to form anelectrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum; a developingapparatus which visualizes the electrostatic latent image on thephotosensitive drum by a toner image; a conveyance mechanism whichconveys a sheet as an image forming medium; a transfer apparatus whichtransfers the toner image on the photosensitive drum onto a sheetconveyed by the conveyance mechanism; and a fixing apparatus whichthermally fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet by thetransfer apparatus.

The control section 3 is constituted of: a main CPU 16 which controlsthe whole; a read only memory (ROM) 17 in which the control programs arestored; the image processing unit 18 to subject image data which isinputted from the color scanner section 1 and whose color is separatedinto red (R), green (G), blue (B) to color conversion and filter processand subsequently to output print data to the color printer section 2; aNVRAM (nonvolatile random access memory: nonvolatile RAM) 19 as anonvolatile memory backed up by a battery; an image processing settingcontrol unit 20; and a monitor process unit 21. In the NVRAM 19, forexample, a code in which a serviceman level can be adjusted is stored.The NVRAM 19 includes a set information data storage portion 19 a, andmonitor table 19 b.

The image processing unit 18 can be switched in accordance with aparameter setting content from the image processing setting control unit20.

The set information data storage portion 19 a stores a set content ofdefault such as the original mode and image quality adjustment at a copyprocess time.

For example, as the set content of default, the setting of the originalmode, position of the hue adjustment, position of the saturationadjustment, position of the sharpness adjustment, position of the colorbalance adjustment, each position of RGB adjustment, position of theone-touch adjustment, and position of the background adjustment arestored.

The monitor table 19 b stores the set information of the image qualityadjustment for each copy job and the total of original mode switches.

In the monitor table 19 b, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, there arestored: a copy job number; the number of settings of each of theoriginal modes including the text mode, photo mode, and text/photo mode;the number of settings of each position of the hue adjustment; thenumber of settings of each position of the saturation adjustment; thenumber of settings of each position of the sharpness adjustment; thenumber of settings of each position of the color balance adjustment; thenumber of settings of each position of the RGB adjustment; and thenumber of settings of each position of the one-touch adjustment andbackground adjustment.

The monitor process unit 21 monitors total sum information of themonitor table 19 b and automatically updates the set content of defaultof the set information data storage portion 19 a in accordance withpreset judgment conditions.

The judgment conditions of the monitor process unit 21 are determinedfor each adjustment setting item on the control panel 4 in accordancewith predetermined items which permit default update (e.g., the originalmode, sharpness adjustment, hue adjustment, saturation adjustment, colorbalance (YMCK adjustment), RGB adjustment, one-touch adjustment,background adjustment), and a threshold value of the number of uses(total sum) of each predetermined set item.

Moreover, the monitor process unit 21 accumulates/adds the number ofcopy jobs of the monitor table 19 b for each copy job, and alsoaccumulates/adds the number of settings for each mode of the originalmode as the item in which the default update is permitted, the number ofsettings for each value of the sharpness adjustment, the number ofsettings for each value of the hue adjustment, the number of settingsfor each value of the saturation adjustment, the number of settings foreach value of the color balance (YMCK adjustment), the number ofsettings for each value of RGB adjustment, the number of settings foreach value of the one-touch adjustment, and the number of settings foreach value of the background adjustment in the set content for each copyjob.

Moreover, when the number of copy jobs of the monitor table 19 b reachesa predetermined number, the monitor process unit 21 judges the followingset contents as new default values, and updates corresponding defaultprocess set values of the set information data storage portion 19 a. Theset contents include: any mode of the original modes whose number ofsettings (total sum) reaches the threshold value; any position of thehue adjustment positions whose number of settings (total sum) reachesthe threshold value; any position of the saturation adjustment positionswhose number of settings (total sum) reaches the threshold value; anyposition of the sharpness adjustment positions whose number of settings(total sum) reaches the threshold value; any position of the colorbalance adjustment positions whose number of settings (total sum)reaches the threshold value; any position of the RGB adjustmentpositions whose number of settings (total sum) reaches the thresholdvalue; any position of the one-touch adjustment positions whose numberof settings (total sum) reaches the threshold value; and any position ofthe background adjustment positions whose number of settings (total sum)reaches the threshold value.

For example, when the number of copy jobs of the monitor table 19 breaches “ten times”, the monitor process unit 21 judges: any mode of theoriginal modes whose number of settings reaches seven times; anyposition of the hue adjustment positions whose number of settingsreaches five times; any position of the saturation adjustment positionswhose number of settings reaches five times; any position of thesharpness adjustment positions whose number of settings reaches fivetimes; any position of the color balance adjustment positions whosenumber of settings reaches five times; any position of the RGBadjustment positions whose number of settings reaches five times; anyposition of the one-touch adjustment whose number of settings reachesfive times; and any position of the background adjustment positionswhose number of settings reaches five times; as new default values whichare different from the present default process set values, and updatesthe corresponding default process set values of the set information datastorage portion 19 a.

The process of the monitor process unit 21 may also be executed by themain CPU 16.

The image processing setting control unit 20 executescalculating/processing with functions for image processing based on theadjusted values corresponding to the set content of default stored inthe set information data storage portion 19 a. Moreover, the imageprocessing setting control unit 20 sets the value of a processing resultas a set value into a register of each image processing ASIC in theimage processing unit 18.

Moreover, as not shown, the control section 3 includes: a RAM fortemporarily storing the data; a shared RAM for use in bidirectionalcommunication between the main CPU 16 and printer CPU 13; a page memorywhich includes a region capable of storing image information for aplurality of pages and which can be formed to store data obtained bycompressing the image information from the color scanner section 1 foreach page; and a page memory control unit which stores or reads theimage information with respect to the page memory.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing unit 18 is constituted of: acolor conversion portion 31 as color conversion means for converting theimage data whose color is separated into red (R), green (G), blue (B)from the color scanner section 1 into each data of yellow (Y), magenta(M), cyan (C); a filter, enlargement/reduction process portion 32 whichsubjects the image data Y, M, C outputted from the color conversionportion 31 to processes such as enlargement, reduction, backgroundremoval, noise removal, and edge emphasis; a gray component replacementprocess portion 33 which subjects the image data Y, M, C outputted fromthe filter, enlargement/reduction process portion 32 to a gray componentreplacement process (correction process of black color); and a gradationprocess portion 34 which subjects the image data of Y, M, C, BK (black)outputted from the gray component replacement process portion 33 to agradation process.

Each portion of the image processing unit 18 is constituted of an imageprocessing ASIC. By control of parameter setting from the imageprocessing setting control unit 20, the setting of the process operationis switched with respect to each image processing ASIC so that an imagequality can be changed.

A major part of a copy process in the above-described constitution willnext be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 4.

First, the main CPU 16 outputs the set content (corresponding adjustmentvalue) of default stored in the set information data storage portion 19a to the image processing setting control unit 20 at a power-on time(ST1). Then, the image processing setting control unit 20calculates/processes the adjustment value in accordance with thesupplied set content of default with image processing functions, andsets the value of this process result as a set value into the registerof each image processing ASIC of the image processing unit 18 (ST2).

In this state, the user uses the control panel 4 to adjust copy sheetnumber, sheet size, copy magnification, and copy density and to selectcolor mode and original mode (ST3).

For example, by inputs of density buttons (+side, side) 41, 42 of abasic menu screen of the liquid crystal display unit 4 a shown in FIG.5, a density adjustment value can be set every five stages on the “+” or“−” side centering on zero.

Moreover, by an input of a text/photo button 43 of the basic menu screenof the liquid crystal display unit 4 a, as shown in FIG. 6, a settingscreen of the original mode is displayed. By the display, a text/photobutton 44, text button 45, and photo button 46 are displayed. By thedisplay, a original in which texts and printed photos exist in a mixedmanner is set by the input of the text/photo button 44, a originalincluding only the texts is set by the input of the text button 45, andthe original of the photo is set by the input of the photo button 46.

Moreover, when a color button is depressed, a color menu screen isdisplayed as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, a mono color button 51,hue/saturation button 52, color balance button 53, RGB adjustment button54, one-touch adjustment button 55, background adjustment button 56, andsharpness button 57 are displayed.

In this color menu screen, by the input of the mono color button 51, amonosaturated selection screen is displayed, and one color can beselected.

Moreover, in the color menu screen, by the input of the hue/saturationbutton 52, as shown in FIG. 8, a hue button 60 is lit and a hue settingscreen is displayed. By this display, the setting is possible everythree stages on the “+” or “−” side centering on zero by the inputs ofsetting buttons of the hue (+ side, − side) 61, 62.

Moreover, in the setting screen of the hue, by the input of a saturationbutton 63, as shown in FIG. 9, the saturation button 63 is lit and thesetting screen of the saturation is displayed. By this display, thesetting is possible every three stages on the “+” or “−” side centeringon zero by the inputs of setting buttons of the saturation (+ side, −side) 64, 65.

Furthermore, in the color menu screen, by the input of the color balance(YMCBK adjustment) button 53, as shown in FIG. 10, the setting screen ofthe color balance is displayed. By this display, each color (Y, M, C,BK) of the color balance can be set every four stages on the “+” or “−”side centering on zero by the inputs of setting buttons of the color (+side, − side) 66, 67.

Additionally, in the color menu screen, by the input of the RGBadjustment button 54, as shown in FIG. 11, the setting screen of RGB isdisplayed. By this display, the setting is possible every four stages onthe “+” or “−” side centering on zero by the inputs of setting buttonsof the respective colors R, G, B (+ side, − side) 68, 69.

Moreover, in the color menu screen, by the input of the one-touchadjustment button 55, as shown in FIG. 12, the setting screen of theone-touch adjustment is displayed. By this display, by the inputs of a“warm” button 70, “cool” button 71, “vivid” button 72, and “clearness”button 73, four-stages setting is possible.

Furthermore, in the color menu screen, by the input of the backgroundadjustment button 56, as shown in FIG. 13, the setting screen of thebackground adjustment is displayed. By this display, by the input of a“dark” button 74, “light” button 75 in accordance with the density ofbackground, the display can be set to be dark or light every four stagescentering on zero.

Additionally, in the color menu screen, by the input of the sharpnessbutton 57, as shown in FIG. 14, the setting screen of the sharpnessadjustment is displayed. By this display, by the input of a “sharp”button 76, “soft” button 77, the display can be set to be sharp or softevery four stages centering on zero.

For example, the copy job is set to change the original mode to the textmode, the density adjustment value to the position of manual +3, and thesharpness adjustment to the position of +2.

After selectively performing various settings, a copy key is depressedto instruct execution of the copy (ST4).

In this case, the monitor process unit 21 increases the copy job numberof the monitor table 19 b by “+1”, increases the setting number of thetext mode by “+1”, and increases the setting number into the position of+2 of the sharpness adjustment by “+1” (ST5).

Thereafter, the copy corresponding to the copy job is similarlyperformed, and the stored content of the monitor table 19 b is alsoupdated (ST3 to 5).

Subsequently, when the copy job number of the monitor table 19 b reaches“10 times”, the monitor process unit 21 judges any mode of the originalmodes whose number of settings reaches seven times and any position ofthe sharpness adjustment positions whose number of settings reaches fivetimes, which are different from the present set content of default; asnew setting of defaults (ST7), and updates the corresponding set contentof defaults of the set information data storage portion 19 a (ST8).

For example, when seven text modes are achieved, five positions of +2are achieved as the position of the sharpness adjustment, and thesenumbers are different from the present set content of default, themonitor process unit 21 updates the set content of default of the setinformation data storage portion 19 a.

After this update, or when the new setting of default is not judged bythe step 7, the monitor process unit 21 clears the accumulated numbersof the monitor table 19 b (ST9), and returns to step 3 to process thenext copy job as a first time.

Thereafter, every time ten copy jobs are achieved, or when there issetting of seven times reached in each mode of the original mode orsetting of five times reached in each position of the sharpnessadjustment, different from the present set content of default, themonitor process unit 21 updates the corresponding set content of defaultof the set information data storage portion 19 a as described above.

Moreover, after the corresponding set content of default of the setinformation data storage portion 19 a is updated and power is turned on,the updated set content of default stored in the set information datastorage portion 19 a is outputted to the image processing settingcontrol unit 20 (ST1). Then, the image processing setting control unit20 calculates/processes the adjustment value based on the supplied setcontent of default with image processing functions, and sets the valueof the process result as the set value into the register of each imageprocessing ASIC of the image processing unit 18 (ST2).

That is, after the update of the set content of default and at the nextpower-on time, the value is used as the value of the processing set modeof default.

Furthermore, when the set content of default is updated by the judgmentof the monitor process unit 21, the control panel 4 may announce (guide)voice or display in order to confirm the update.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 15, step 10 of confirmation announcementor confirmation display and step 11 of key input to indicate OK by theuser are added between the steps 7 and 8. With the key input with whichthe user indicates NG by the confirmation announcement, after clearingthe accumulated numbers of the monitor table 19 b, the process returnsto the step 3.

Moreover, as another example, it is also possible to change to anotherprocess mode as an adaptive process by the information accumulated inthe monitor process unit 21. For example, as the process conditions ofthe monitor process unit 21, when the frequency of photo modes satisfythe conditions, the value of application process setting is prepared asanother management value of the set information data storage portion 19a without directly updating the value of the set information datastorage portion 19 a corresponding to the original mode. Thereby, it isalso possible to change a parameter of process in which reproduction ofa photo part in the text/photo mode is prioritized to a selectablecorresponding value without changing the original mode.

Furthermore, the update is displayed or announced before copy start, anda notice as to whether there is a problem in the copy in the presentsetting process mode is informed. This assist function can prevent copymistake.

As described above, by the monitor process unit 21 which accumulates andholds use information obtained by changing the setting of the originalmode or image quality adjustment on the user's control panel for eachitem to manage the data, the content (e.g., original mode, sharpnessadjustment, and the like) which is allowed beforehand to be updated inaccordance with the content of the monitor process unit 21 is judged bya use number (total sum) and data value of the set information datastorage portion 19 a is automatically updated as the default processsetting mode so that the data can be reflected in the process mode at astart time of the copy machine.

Thereby, the mode can automatically be updated to a suitable defaultprocess setting mode for each user, and an appropriate image can bereproduced without changing the image adjustment setting before the copywith respect to the major user.

Furthermore, the assist function to inform the notice as to whetherthere is a problem in the copy in the present setting process mode bythe display or announcement before the copy start can prevent the copymistake.

For example, the default state may also be displayed as each buttondisplay, when the color menu screen is displayed by the input of thecolor button in the above-described step 3.

Second Embodiment

As a second embodiment, for the setting of the item which permits thedefault update managed by the image forming, copy job unit, andthreshold value by the use number for each item, addition/deletion ofthe associated management value of the set information data storageportion 19 a, download change for upload of the value and correction ofthe value, and further the setting of a process parameter set into theimage processing of the image processing setting control unit 20, thedata can be transmitted/received by LAN and PHS so that a remotemaintenance function of the image quality is possible.

As shown in FIG. 16, this case can be realized, when an external accesssection 5 is added to the control circuit of FIG. 1.

The external access section 5 is constituted of a controller CPU 22which controls the whole of the access section, LAN interface 23, radioLAN interface 24, and serial port 25. The LAN interface 23 is connectedto connected to a terminal (remote monitor) 7 of a service center in aremote area via a LAN cable. The radio LAN interface 24 is connected toa PHS 8 connected via a communication line. The serial port 25 isconnected to a personal computer (PC) 9 for maintenance by a serviceman.

The controller CPU 22 is connected to the main CPU 16, exchange of datais performed between the controller CPU 22 and main CPU 16, and datafrom the terminal 7 of the service center 7, PHS 8, PC 9 is downloadedinto the control section 3 or collected data in the control section 3 isuploaded onto the terminal of the service center 7, PHS 8, PC 9 underthe control by the controller CPU 22.

The controller CPU 22 controls the LAN interface 23, radio LAN interface24, and serial port 25, so that access control with external apparatusessuch as the terminal 7, PHS 8, and PC 9 can be performed.

For example, the controller CPU 22 receives the data for the update fromthe terminal 7, converts the data to the data for use in the controlsection 3, and transmits the data so that the main CPU 16 can beoperated in a state equivalent to a usual input from the control panel4.

Moreover, the controller CPU 22 can directly and forcibly change thevalue of the default process setting mode of the set information datastorage portion 19 a in the NVRAM 19, or change the process conditionsof the monitor process unit 21.

Furthermore, the main CPU 16 may also accumulate/store the set contentof the copy job unit in the NVRAM 19, or the change content of the valueof the default process setting mode.

Additionally, the controller CPU 22 takes up the set content of the copyjob unit accumulated/stored in the NVRAM 19, and the change content ofthe value of the default process setting mode, so that the contents canbe transmitted to the external apparatuses such as the terminal 7 of theservice center, PHS 8, and PC 9.

Thereby, the terminal 7 of the service center (PHS 8, PC 9) takes up thedata registered by the control section 3, and can thereby compilecustomer's data such that the use frequency requiring the change and theimage quality to be changed can be estimated.

The compiled data can be used to judge the image quality to be set inthe apparatus to be supplied to each customer.

Third Embodiment

As a third embodiment, the corresponding value of the set informationdata storage portion is separately set in order to manage the use of theprocess conditions of the monitor process unit every unit of a pluralityof users or groups, so that the default process setting mode can beswitched by a use management unit to automatically update the defaultprocess setting mode.

In this case, first, users who use this apparatus and similar to oneanother in the image quality adjustment are grouped for each department,and a management number is given to each department. Moreover, the samepart as that of the first embodiment is denoted with the same referencenumerals and the description thereof is omitted. Thereby, as shown inFIG. 17, the set information data storage portion 19 a, monitor table 19b, and monitor process unit 21 are replaced with a set information datastorage portion 82, monitor table 80, and monitor process unit 81.

Thereby, a plurality of set contents of defaults are stored in the setinformation data storage portion 82.

The set information of the image quality adjustment at the copy time foreach management number and the total sum of the original mode switchesfor each mode are stored in the monitor table 80.

In the monitor table 80, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, there arestored: the management number; copy job number; the number of settingsof each of the original modes including the text mode, photo mode, andtext/photo mode; the number of settings of each position of the hueadjustment; the number of settings of each position of the saturationadjustment; the number of settings of each position of the sharpnessadjustment; the number of settings of each position of the color balanceadjustment; the number of settings of each position of the RGBadjustment; and the number of settings of each position of the one-touchadjustment and background adjustment.

The monitor process unit 81 monitors the total sum information of themonitor table 80 for each management number and automatically updatesthe set information of the set information data storage portion 82 inaccordance with the preset judgment conditions.

That is, the monitor process unit 81 monitors the corresponding value ofthe monitor table 80 for each management number, and updates the values(values for managing the type of the original mode and the adjustmentposition of the image quality adjustment) associated with the defaultprocess setting mode of the set information data storage portion 82,when the process conditions of each management number are applicable.

The major part of the copy process in the above-described constitutionwill next be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. 19.

That is, at a copy start time, the user uses the control panel 4 toinput the management number. Then, the main CPU 16 outputs theadjustment value as the associated value of the process setting mode ofdefault stored in the set information data storage portion 82 to theimage processing setting control unit 20 based on the management number(ST21). Then, the image processing setting control unit 20calculates/processes the supplied adjustment value in accordance withthe image processing functions, and sets the value of this processresult as the set value into the register of each image processing ASICof the image processing unit 18 (ST22).

In this state, the user uses the control panel 4 to adjust the copysheet number, sheet size, copy magnification, and copy density and toselect the color mode and original mode (ST23).

In this case, when the color menu screen is displayed by the input ofthe color button, as shown in FIG. 20, the default state (based on theabove-described management number) is displayed as each button display.Thereby, the present image quality adjustment state can be known.

After selectively performing various settings, the copy key is depressedto instruct the execution of the copy (ST24).

In this case, the monitor process unit 81 increases the copy job numberof the management number of the monitor table 80 by “+1”, and increasesthe corresponding setting number by “+1” with the selection of the colormode or original mode (ST25).

Thereafter, the copy corresponding to the copy job is similarlyperformed, and the stored content of the monitor table 80 is alsoupdated based on the management number (ST23 to 25).

Subsequently, when the number of checks of each management number agreeswith the number of copy jobs having the corresponding management numberof the monitor table 80 (ST26), the monitor process unit 21 judges anymode of the original modes whose number of settings reaches seven timesand any position of the sharpness adjustment positions whose number ofsettings reaches five times, which are different from the present setcontent of default; as new setting of defaults (ST27), and updates thecorresponding set content of defaults of the set information datastorage portion 19 a (ST28).

For example, when seven text modes are achieved, and five positions of+2 are achieved as the position of the sharpness adjustment, the monitorprocess unit 21 updates the value associated beforehand with the textmode as the value of the original mode of the set information datastorage portion 19 a to a new value only with respect to the adjustmentvalue of the position of +2 as the position of the sharpness adjustment.

After this update, or when the new default value is not judged by thestep 7, the monitor process unit 21 clears the accumulated numbers ofthe monitor table 19 b (ST29), and returns to step 23 to process thenext copy job as a first time.

Thereafter, every time ten copy jobs having management number “0001” areachieved, and when seven times are achieved in each mode of the originalmode and five times are achieved in each position of the sharpnessadjustment, the corresponding default process set value of the setinformation data storage portion 19 a is updated as described above.

As described above, with the monitor process unit 21 which manages theuser use information by the use management unit, better image qualitymanagement can be achieved as the image quality conditions in the use ina plurality of departments or in the use of each operation group.

Moreover, the setting of the set conditions and setting process mode canbe performed by transmission/reception of the data by the remotemaintenance function via LAN and PHS, so that the set conditions aredownloaded, the set frequency data of the setting process mode isuploaded, and thereby the conditions and data can be used in imagequality demand check of each user.

As shown in FIG. 21, this case can be realized by the external accesssection 5 added to the control circuit of FIG. 16 as in the secondembodiment.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventionconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a read unit which reads acolor image from a original; an image processing unit which converts thecolor image read by the read unit to an image signal for imageformation; an image forming unit which performs the image formation onan image forming medium in response to the image signal from the imageprocessing unit; a storage unit which stores a default value of changeof an image quality in the image processing unit; an instruction unitwhich instructs the image processing unit to change the image quality bya series of image formation processing units; a setting process unitwhich sets the change of the image quality in the image processing unitin accordance with the instruction of the instruction unit and thedefault value of the change of the image quality of the storage unit; ajudgment unit which judges whether or not the default value of thestorage unit is changed based on a change state of the image quality andin which predetermined or more number is selected such as three and fivetimes every predetermined number of instructions given by theinstruction unit; and a change unit to change the default value of thestorage unit based on the change state of the image quality, when thejudgment unit judges the change of the default value of the storageunit.